November 10, 2024 ~ 25th Sunday after Pentecost
Stewardship Series ~ Releasing God’s Blessings
Rev. Beckie Sweet
We lived in Binghamton when I was in Junior High School, where my dad served as senior pastor at the Boulevard UMC on the corner of Grand Blvd. and Floral Ave, near the Johnson City border. That’s where I had my first experience of participating in a youth group. The young couple who led the group tried very hard to provide an experience for the group which was faith centered, and helped to develop our understanding of what it meant to be a disciple of Christ. In addition to the fun field trips, like going roller skating or bowling, we also took “programmatic field trips.”
One such trip was to the home of Ken & Gracie Cable, who were known as spiritual leaders in the church and community. Their children were several years older than me, but at that time, Ken and Gracie were still middle-aged. We had snacks, did a little singing together with a guitar, and then were instructed to have a seat on the living room floor. I don’t think any of us knew the subject of the conversation we were about to share that evening.
Ken began by sharing with us the story of their marriage and faith development, which intersected beautifully. Ken told us that when they were first married, they didn’t have much money. So, they started their giving in the life of the church with what he called “token offerings.” In other words, if they had a few dollars left over at the end of the week, they would put a portion of that in the offering plate. It felt good to give, but Ken explained that he knew in his heart that God expected more from him. A short time later their Sunday School class, and the Sunday Worship began to focus on tithing. According to the Hebrew Scriptures, tithing meant giving a minimum of a tenth of the fruits of one’s labors to God. Ken and Gracie were asked to make a commitment to tithing for the coming year.
Well, they were not sure how they would ever make ends meet if they gave 10% of their income to God through the church. They had not yet purchased a home and wanted to save for a down payment. They were preparing to bring children into the world. And Ken was not yet established in a long-term career. But, they trusted God, and that God would provide, and so they made the commitment.
Then Gracie shared that they were amazed and thrilled that once they started tithing, the other 90% was always enough to meet their needs. Sure, they had to plan carefully, but there was always enough. They were passionate about being faithful disciples of Christ, and that passion turned to joy as they gave and served.
Do you remember what it is like to get passionate about a cause, even when acting on that passion is a bit of a risky endeavor. How will we have the time, the energy, the resources, the community connections to fulfill the expectations? When we believe in the cause, when we find joy in the effort, when we know that we are making a difference in the lives of others, somehow, the way becomes more clear, and it is definitely worth the risk.
In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul writes, For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Jesus showed us how much we are valued by modeling sacrificial giving for us. Paul speaks of Jesus’ generosity in providing our Salvation; thus, all we have for eternity comes to us through Jesus. We have become stewards of the riches of a redeemed life. We have been “made rich” by Jesus’ generosity and now it is up to us to use the riches of our lives responsibly and in a Christ-like, self-giving way. In chapter 9, which we will be reading for the next couple of Sundays, Paul is applauding the great ministry the Corinthian community is doing by stirring hearts to a new life in Jesus Christ. Paul is speaking to a group of Christians who are in a position to continue to help others who are growing Christian communities. In what, on the surface may seem as a “strong arm” tactic, Paul reminds them with great candor that their resources are meant to be shared to the glory of God.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians about generosity. Paul does not want to command generosity from the Corinthians, because if one is commanded to be generous then you are actually NOT generous. Generosity comes from the heart, from faith and passion, and not from command. So rather than command the necessity to be generous as Christians, Paul first describes the example of generosity from the Macedonian Christians, because we all need role models. In spite of the severe test of affliction, persecution, and poverty, the Macedonian Christians begged for the joy and grace of giving to the needy Christians in Jerusalem. Paul wants to ensure that the Corinthians are PREPARED to give, as they have received from others, from willing and generous hearts. Preparation, planning, and intentionality in giving, blesses the giver and recipient alike. Paul is offering the Corinthians the opportunity to be blessed through their giving!
As Paul urged the church, God is calling us to remember that we have received grace to become agents of grace. Because of our faith in Christ’s legacy, we are moved to look beyond ourselves and see others with the heart of God.
Getting back to how Ken & Gracie Cable influenced me, I, too, struggled as a young adult to give as much as I felt I should have been giving to God through the church. When I first became a pastor, I was in seminary and paying for my education, commuting costs, and caring for living expenses for the first time. I gave a “token offering” then. But soon I decided that I needed to increase my faithfulness in giving. And God was patient and gracious with me. A 1 ½ % commitment (or pledge) became 3%, then 5%, and so on. The church was not the only recipient of my charitable giving, so for a while the church received 8% while I dedicated 2% to special offerings, disaster response, etc… Now my giving is more than 10%, plus supporting at least one other “cause” each month. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been a joy to feel like I was growing in generosity in response to God’s amazing provision in my life. Making the commitment or pledge helped me to plan appropriately to be sure I could faithfully fulfill my pledge to support God’s work through the church.
Be assured that as we begin this Stewardship Campaign, we are not in competition with other charities, or other churches. We are not about shaming people into giving. We are about living as people who have been redeemed by grace. And we are people who find joy in sharing the blessings God has given us. What might change if we were to be more mindful of who we are as God’s people and joyfully live into that legacy and life of generosity? Because of Christ, I know who I am. Do you?